System and method for making user generated audio content on the spoken web navigable by community tagging

ABSTRACT

Methods and arrangements for creating and building subcategories in a user-based voice application. User posts are appended to a category in a voice application and subdivision of the category is prompted upon satisfaction of a first condition. The category is designated as a parent category, and at least one subcategory nomination are solicited from users. User input is solicited on appending at least one nominated subcategory to the parent category, and a nominated subcategory is appended to the parent category upon satisfaction of a second condition. User input is solicited to reassign a user post from the parent category to at least one subcategory.

BACKGROUND

The creation of audio content continues to evolve for use in newapplications. One such application is the World Wide Telecom Web (WWTW),also referred to as the ‘Telecom Web’ or the ‘Spoken Web.’ The SpokenWeb is a network of VoiceSites hosted on the telecom network, whereineach voice site individually comprises a voice driven application. TheSpoken Web system may be viewed as a telecom network parallel to theWorld Wide Web (WWW) that runs on the Internet infrastructure.VoiceSites are accessed by calling the number associated with theVoiceSite, called a VoiNumber. A VoiLink is used to link the variousVoiceSites to one another. A VoiceSite may be created or updated througha voice driven interface, such that a user may create a VoiceSite ormodify an existing VoiceSite using a cellular phone. The Spoken Web isan ideal solution for a large part of the world were the population doesnot have access to the devices necessary to access the Internet, butcellular phone penetration is high. As a result, the use of the SpokenWeb and the number of VoiceSites continue to increase. Thus, the volumeof audio content associated with the Spoken Web continues to steadilyexpand.

More particularly, the World Wide Telecom Web and interconnected voiceapplications (VoiceSites) and can be accessed by any voice-capable(e.g., landline or cellular) telephone. In the course of an ordinaryphone call, the user interacts with a service or other applicationthrough speech or DTMF (dual tone multi frequency, or the signal to thephone company that is generated when one presses the touch keys of atelephone). Generally, VoiceSites contain an ample amount user generatedcontent, this mainly being contained in the form of audio lists whichhave to be browsed linearly via telephone.

As such, in the context of VoiceSites, audio lists do tend to get longerover time, with no efficient mechanism available to organize thecontent, given its audio nature and length of the list. Categorizationcan normally be performed before the query is recorded so that the usercan select a category, but problems are presented in connection with notknowing what the user will record. Sub-categories need to be createddepending on the recorded content. Additionally, meta-information isgenerally unavailable; usually this amounts to little more than theauthor's phone number and a timestamp. Speech-to-text systems also tendnot to be reliable in the VoiceSites context (or other related oranalogous contexts), resulting in a paucity of information aboutcontent.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a method comprising:appending user posts to a category in a voice application; promptingsubdivision of the category upon satisfaction of a first condition;designating the category as a parent category; soliciting at least onesubcategory nomination from users; soliciting user input on appending atleast one nominated subcategory to the parent category; appending anominated subcategory to the parent category upon satisfaction of asecond condition; and soliciting user input to reassign a user post fromthe parent category to at least one subcategory.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising: atleast one processor; and a computer readable storage medium havingcomputer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by theat least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising:computer readable program code configured to append user posts to acategory in a voice application; computer readable program codeconfigured to prompt subdivision of the category upon satisfaction of afirst condition; computer readable program code configured to designatethe category as a parent category; computer readable program codeconfigured to solicit at least one subcategory nomination from users;computer readable program code configured to solicit user input onappending at least one nominated subcategory to the parent category;computer readable program code configured to append a nominatedsubcategory to the parent category upon satisfaction of a secondcondition; and computer readable program code configured to solicit userinput to reassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a computer programproduct comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computerreadable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable programcode comprising: computer readable program code configured to appenduser posts to a category in a voice application; computer readableprogram code configured to prompt subdivision of the category uponsatisfaction of a first condition; computer readable program codeconfigured to designate the category as a parent category; computerreadable program code configured to solicit at least one subcategorynomination from users; computer readable program code configured tosolicit user input on appending at least one nominated subcategory tothe parent category; computer readable program code configured to appenda nominated subcategory to the parent category upon satisfaction of asecond condition; and computer readable program code configured tosolicit user input to reassign a user post from the parent category toat least one subcategory.

For a better understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention,together with other and further features and advantages thereof,reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the claimed embodimentsof the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an arrangement for creating andbuilding subcategories in a user-based voice application

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a further stage in which users vote onsubcategories.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the creation of new subcategories.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a stage of building subcategoriesinvolving user voting.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the reassignment of a user post to asubcategory.

FIG. 7 sets forth a process more generally for creating and buildingsubcategories in a user-based voice application

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments ofthe invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figuresherein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations in addition to the described exemplary embodiments. Thus,the following more detailed description of the embodiments of theinvention, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit thescope of the embodiments of the invention, as claimed, but is merelyrepresentative of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided to give athorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodimentsof the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

The description now turns to the figures. The illustrated embodiments ofthe invention will be best understood by reference to the figures. Thefollowing description is intended only by way of example and simplyillustrates certain selected exemplary embodiments of the invention asclaimed herein.

It should be noted that the flowchart and block diagrams in the figuresillustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, apparatuses, methods and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, computingnode 10 may not necessarily even be part of a cloud network but insteadcould be part of another type of distributed or other network, or couldrepresent a stand-alone node. For the purposes of discussion andillustration, however, node 10 is variously referred to herein as a“cloud computing node”.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 can communicate with one ormore networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide areanetwork (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via networkadapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20 communicates with the othercomponents of computer system/server 12 via bus 18. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with computer system/server 12.Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers,redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems,tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

The disclosure now turns to FIGS. 2-6. It should be appreciated that theprocesses, arrangements and products broadly illustrated therein can becarried out on or in accordance with essentially any suitable computersystem or set of computer systems, which may, by way of an illustrativeand non-restrictive example, include a system or server such as thatindicated at 12 in FIG. 1. In accordance with an example embodiment,most if not all of the process steps, components and outputs discussedwith respect to FIGS. 2-6 can be performed or utilized by way of aprocessing unit or units and system memory such as those indicated,respectively, at 16 and 28 in FIG. 1, whether on a server computer, aclient computer, a node computer in a distributed network, or anycombination thereof.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, in a voiceapplication with a capability for user generated content (such asVoiceSites), audio lists automatically become candidates forcategorization. Users suggest and record categories, while other usersvalidate and/or finalize the implementation of such categories via avoting scheme. As a result, ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) andSpeech-to-Text requirements are bypassed. A similar solution applies formoving elements from one category to another, while provisions areavailable for merging duplicate categories and adding the same post tomore than one category.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, and asshown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, a user suggests categories in amanner now to be described.

In the illustrative and non-restrictive example of FIG. 2, QA section202 in a voice application with a capability for user generated content(such as VoiceSites) includes three categories: Agriculture 204, Animals206 and Transport 208. Over time, users append posts to the threecategories 204/206/208. If the number of user posts 210 in an existingcategory reaches a threshold n, then that category becomes a candidateto be split into further categories. As shown in FIG. 2, the number ofposts 210 in category Agriculture 204 has reached the threshold n (211);thus, Agriculture 204 is declared as a candidate to split into furthercategories.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a further stage in which users vote onsubcategories into which a threshold-satisfying category (e.g.,Agriculture 204) can be split. Particularly, at the moment that acategory reaches threshold n (e.g., Agriculture 204), users can eitherthen or over time voluntarily suggest sub-categories for undertaking asplit. As such, once one or more subcategories are proposed, subsequentusers are able to either suggest yet another subcategory or expressagreement with one already proposed. The voice application can conveyand prompt these inquiries to users in essentially any suitable manner;users may respond, e.g., by uttering a newly proposed category verballyor expressing agreement with an already proposed category verbally orvia touch-tone.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a uservotes once for a suggested category, but can vote for multiplecategories. However, a user could change any vote of his or hers at alater time. Also, the number of subcategories, or time available forcreating the same, can optionally be capped, such that a capability forusers to suggest subcategories is stopped after a predetermined timeperiod or upon reaching a predetermined threshold number of categories.However, even in the absence of either type of cap it can be found thatthe rate of increase in the number of new subcategories will decay overtime in any event, in that a dynamic structure is being created by usersand viable options for new subcategories may well end up beingexhausted. In other words, users will likely tend not to new subcategories over time, to the extent such new ones may not be needed, orat least may tend to refrain from voting on newly proposed subcategoriesthat may be perceived as irrelevant.

Once the number of agreements on a subcategory reach a predeterminedthreshold m, then that subcategory can be defined as a subcategory ofthe existing category

Accordingly, as illustrated with regard to an illustrative andnon-restrictive embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, atwofold step of nominating and voting takes place (212). Here, fiveusers (Users 1-5) propose (or suggest or “nominate”) distinctsuggestions for subcategories, namely, Bajra, Rabi, one that isinaudible (e.g., due to a poor connection), Pashu-palan and Kheti. Thisnomination stage is followed by voting where, as shown, Bajra and Rabiboth satisfy threshold m (e.g., a number of votes greater than or equalto 19) while the others fail to satisfy the threshold (as shown, 0 forthe inaudible entry, 1 for Pashu-palan and 4 for Kheti).

As shown in FIG. 4, with regard to an illustrative and non-restrictiveexample in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, thetwo subcategories which satisfy threshold m are then ascertained as suchand created (214) so that they enter the system as an integral part ofthe voice application Thus, Bajra and Rabi become dependents orsubcategories (216 and 218, respectively) of parent category Agriculture204. When a user then visits the voice application, then the newsubcategories will be available in the tree and the system willautomatically ask the user if he/she wishes to visit those or othersubcategories.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, and asshown schematically in FIG. 5, users assign content to categories in amanner now to be described.

Essentially, in accordance with the illustrative and non-restrictiveexample shown, inasmuch as two new subcategories (Bajra 216 and Rabi218) have been newly created, users can then suggest, one at a time, asubcategory destination for each of the existing posts 210 of categoryAgriculture 204. Users can also choose to keep a post “unassigned”, inthat they need not necessarily categorize each and every post. Here,users are offered the choices between Bajra 216 and Rabi 218; once oneof these receives a predetermined threshold of p agreements or votes(e.g., 42), that post is moved to the suggested sub-category. Theexample of FIG. 5 shows that Bajra (216) indeed has met a threshold p of42 votes (with Rabi [218] only having accumulated 11 votes up to thatpoint) Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the post (Number 1) 210 b isreassigned (222) from the original list of posts 210 a and is appendedto the Bajra subcategory 214.

By way of a variant embodiment in accordance with the invention, a usercan designate multiple categories for a single post. As a consequence ofconsolidation of the votes, one post may apply to more than onecategory. In other words, if a given individual post 210 p or more votesfor a first category and also p or more votes for a second category,then the post is assigned to both of the first and second categories.

By way of a variant embodiment in accordance with the invention, if twosuggested subcategories (spoken in audio) are the same or otherwise verysimilar to one another, then users can suggest to merge them together,which can then be validated by unique votes from the users. In otherwords, the suggestion to merge becomes an option on which to vote. Inanother variant, if over time two categories appear similar or containvery few posts, users can suggest to merge them together, which can thenalso be validated by votes from users. To elaborate, a user may find itworthwhile during a voting phase (where final subcategories are beingchosen) to suggest a merger of two suggested subcategories. However, ifa user should realize that two categories are virtually the same, orsimilar enough to warrant a merger, after subcategories have beenfinalized, then a merger step can be taken at that point as well

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, relatedcontent (e.g., comments/responses to a post) can also be flagged withthe same category, leading to taxonomies of audio content. Newontologies/semantic models can be derived from the content as more andmore audio content is tagged and validating by the community throughvoting. In other words, for each post, other users can post comments andresponses that can also get tagged with the same subcategory as theoriginal post. As more and more related content is tagged, semanticrelationships can be derived among different posts, leading to newontologies and semantic models.

In accordance with a variant embodiment of the invention, users canchoose to have their own personalized user-specific categories that canbe structured and accessed as per their preferences. These can be builtbased solely on a particular user's votes. This can be extended tocustom categories for a group of people. Thus, for example, if a user Avotes for a category X, he/she may choose his/her categories andassigned posts to appear when he or she subsequently accesses the voiceapplication anew. The system can recognize his number, e.g., based onstandard technology such as caller ID. Accordingly, irrespective of whatothers may vote for, the user has an option to still use the categoriesand subcategories defined by his own votes.

In accordance with a variant embodiment of the invention, in order tofacilitate the iterative refinement of categories, there could beseveral rounds of voting. For instance, any subcategory that receivesvotes satisfying a predetermined threshold can be transitioned to a“high vote” category. Further voting on an already categorized content(with votes above a threshold) could lead to one of the following:creation of a new category (where this content gets copied); creation ofa sub category (leading to creation of a hierarchical taxonomy); andcorrection of incorrect categorization done in a previous round.

In accordance with a variant embodiment of the invention, categorizationalong multiple dimensions can be facilitated by the system along facetsof interest. Thus, for instance, instead of querying as to the categoryto which an item or post belongs, the system can present other types ofcategorization questions (e.g., “Which period does it belong to ?”, “Whohas posted this ?”, “What is your satisfaction level for this content?”, “Which domain this content belong to ?”, etc.)

FIG. 7 sets forth a process more generally for creating and buildingsubcategories in a user-based voice application, in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the invention. It should be appreciated that aprocess such as that broadly illustrated in FIG. 7 can be carried out onessentially any suitable computer system or set of computer systems,which may, by way of an illustrative and on-restrictive example, includea system such as that indicated at 12 in FIG. 1. In accordance with anexample embodiment, most if not all of the process steps discussed withrespect to FIG. 7 can be performed by way a processing unit or units andsystem memory such as those indicated, respectively, at 16 and 28 inFIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, user posts are appended to a category in a voiceapplication (702) and subdivision of the category is prompted uponsatisfaction of a first condition (704). The category is designated as aparent category (706), and one or more subcategory nominations aresolicited from users (708). User input is solicited on appending one ormore nominated subcategories to the parent category (710), and anominated subcategory is appended to the parent category uponsatisfaction of a second condition (712). User input is solicited toreassign a user post from the parent category to one or moresubcategories (714).

It can be appreciated from the foregoing that, in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the invention, an entire category tree canself-evolve as and when complexity of the tree increases. Further, someadvantages in accordance with at least one embodiment of the inventioncan now be appreciated. Generally, many conventional efforts relate tocontent-related navigation, which mostly depends on conversion of speechto text. This is not feasible as yet for “user-generated audio content”in different languages, accents and dialects, whereas embodiments of theinvention are “friendly” to different languages, accents and dialects inthat content can be created on voice applications locally, or amongpeople in a local region, so that content generators and consumers canand do end up using the same language, dialect and, to some extent,accent. Other conventional efforts relate merely to crowdsourcing whereusers translate content, label content, edit documents etc.collectively. However, to consolidate user input most of thesetechniques use string matching whose counterpart in speech is not veryadvanced especially in different languages.

In further recapitulation, it can also now be appreciated that, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, user inputsare consolidated by encouraging users to vote on recorded audio and usethe same recorded audio as the category labels for the content. Inessence the system does not know what the categories are, but thecontent is still categorized (bypassing ASR inaccuracies).

Generally, there are broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the invention, systems and methods for renderinguser-generated audio content on the spoken web navigable by communitytagging. Essentially, in accordance with at least one embodiment of theinvention, a user-generated audio list or element in a voice application(such as a VoiceSite) is categorized by users using speech, where arecorded category is voted on by community users to validatecategorizations. Any category that reaches n number of postsautomatically becomes a candidate for categorization using communitytagging and community votes. The community suggests names forsubcategories, each of which may then be validated, or not, based onvoting from other users. Speech recognition inaccuracies can be avoidedin that, in accordance with at least one embodiment, the categories arerecorded by the users, voted by the users, and played back to the usersas-is.

It should be noted that aspects of the invention may be embodied as asystem, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of theinvention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of theinvention may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava®, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer (device), partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider).

Aspects of the invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order toexplain principles and practical application, and to enable others ofordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited tothose precise embodiments, and that various other changes andmodifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

1. A method comprising: appending user posts to a category in a voiceapplication; prompting subdivision of the category upon satisfaction ofa first condition; designating the category as a parent category;soliciting at least one subcategory nomination from users; solicitinguser input on appending at least one nominated subcategory to the parentcategory; appending a nominated subcategory to the parent category uponsatisfaction of a second condition; and soliciting user input toreassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firstcondition is a threshold comprising a predetermined number of userposts.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said soliciting ofuser input on appending at least one nominated subcategory comprisessoliciting user votes.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein thesecond condition is a threshold comprising a predetermined number ofuser votes.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said solicitingof user input to reassign a user post comprises soliciting user votes.6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reassigning auser post from the parent category to at least one subcategory uponsatisfaction of a third condition.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein said soliciting of user input to reassign a user post comprisessoliciting user votes.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein thethird condition is a threshold comprising a predetermined number of uservotes.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at leastone taken from the group consisting of: soliciting user input to mergetwo or more subcategories during said soliciting of at least onesubcategory nomination from users; soliciting user input to merge two ormore subcategories after said soliciting of at least one subcategorynomination from users.
 10. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one taken from the group consisting of: solicitinguser comments or responses to a post and flagging the comments orresponses with the same category as the post; adding a new categorywhich is accessible to and usable by solely a user or limited group ofusers; soliciting at least one additional round of user input toiteratively refine category or subcategory content; defining a categoryor subcategory along multiple dimensions.
 11. The method according toclaim 1, wherein at least one taken from the following group consistingof (a), (b), (c) and (d) comprises audio user input: (a) the appendeduser posts; (b) the solicited at least one subcategory nomination fromusers; (c) the solicited user input on appending at least one nominatedsubcategory to the parent category; and (d) the solicited user input toreassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least onetaken from the following group consisting of (a), (b), (c) and (d)comprises user voice input: (a) the appended user posts; (b) thesolicited at least one subcategory nomination from users; (c) thesolicited user input on appending at least one nominated subcategory tothe parent category; and (d) the solicited user input to reassign a userpost from the parent category to at least one subcategory.
 13. Anapparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a computer readablestorage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewithand executable by the at least one processor, the computer readableprogram code comprising: computer readable program code configured toappend user posts to a category in a voice application; computerreadable program code configured to prompt subdivision of the categoryupon satisfaction of a first condition; computer readable program codeconfigured to designate the category as a parent category; computerreadable program code configured to solicit at least one subcategorynomination from users; computer readable program code configured tosolicit user input on appending at least one nominated subcategory tothe parent category; computer readable program code configured to appenda nominated subcategory to the parent category upon satisfaction of asecond condition; and computer readable program code configured tosolicit user input to reassign a user post from the parent category toat least one subcategory.
 14. A computer program product comprising: acomputer readable storage medium having computer readable program codeembodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:computer readable program code configured to append user posts to acategory in a voice application; computer readable program codeconfigured to prompt subdivision of the category upon satisfaction of afirst condition; computer readable program code configured to designatethe category as a parent category; computer readable program codeconfigured to solicit at least one subcategory nomination from users;computer readable program code configured to solicit user input onappending at least one nominated subcategory to the parent category;computer readable program code configured to append a nominatedsubcategory to the parent category upon satisfaction of a secondcondition; and computer readable program code configured to solicit userinput to reassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.
 15. The computer program product according to claim 14,wherein the first condition is a threshold comprising a predeterminednumber of user posts.
 16. The computer program product according toclaim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured tosolicit user input on appending at least one nominated subcategory viasoliciting user votes.
 17. The computer program product according toclaim 16, wherein the second condition is a threshold comprising apredetermined number of user votes.
 18. The computer program productaccording to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code isconfigured to solicit user input to reassign a user post via solicitinguser votes.
 19. The computer program product according to claim 14,wherein said computer readable program code is further configured toreassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory upon satisfaction of a third condition.
 20. The computerprogram product according to claim 19, wherein said computer readableprogram code is configured to solicit user input to reassign a user postvia soliciting user votes.
 21. The computer program product according toclaim 20, wherein the third condition is a threshold comprising apredetermined number of user votes.
 22. The computer program productaccording to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code isfurther configured to perform at least one taken from the groupconsisting of: soliciting user input to merge two or more subcategoriesduring said soliciting of at least one subcategory nomination fromusers; soliciting user input to merge two or more subcategories aftersaid soliciting of at least one subcategory nomination from users. 23.The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein saidcomputer readable program code is further configured to perform at leastone taken from the group consisting of: soliciting user comments orresponses to a post and flagging the comments or responses with the samecategory as the post; adding a new category which is accessible to andusable by solely a user or limited group of users; soliciting at leastone additional round of user input to iteratively refine category orsubcategory content; defining a category or subcategory along multipledimensions.
 24. The computer program product according to claim 14,wherein at least one taken from the following group consisting of (a),(b), (c) and (d) comprises audio user input: (a) the appended userposts; (b) the solicited at least one subcategory nomination from users;(c) the solicited user input on appending at least one nominatedsubcategory to the parent category; and (d) the solicited user input toreassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.
 25. The computer program product according to claim 14,wherein at least one taken from the following group consisting of (a),(b), (c) and (d) comprises user voice input: (a) the appended userposts; (b) the solicited at least one subcategory nomination from users;(c) the solicited user input on appending at least one nominatedsubcategory to the parent category; and (d) the solicited user input toreassign a user post from the parent category to at least onesubcategory.